There is little doubt that Saturday’s clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is the standout fixture of this weekend’s Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified Festival in Bloemfontein. The 16-team festival, featuring clubs from the Super Era and Super Rise streams, will take place at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium from Friday to Sunday.
Sundowns and UWC head to the Free State with several players who shared the same dressing room during the recent Banyana Banyana camp.
More than half of the players from the two clubs were part of the 24-player Banyana squad that beat Madagascar 7 – 0 on aggregate in their two-legged 2028 Olympic qualifier at the Free State Stadium.
Sundowns contributed Andile Dlamini, Katlego Moletsane, Ronnel Donnelly, Noxolo Cesane, Karabo Dhlamini, Khutso Pila, Bambanani Mbane and Isabella Ludwig, while UWC had Fikile Magama, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Zoe October, Antonio Maponya and Sinegugu Zondi in the squad.
Now, the national teammates will become opponents when their clubs meet in a top-of-the-table Super Era Stream clash on Saturday.
One can imagine the UWC defensive pair of Magama and Mhlongo having their hands full as they attempt to contain Sundowns striker, Donnelly, who scored four goals in the aggregate win over Madagascar.
Meanwhile, Banyana Ba Style lead the Super Era standings with 30 points, 11 ahead of second-placed University of Pretoria (Tuks) and third-placed UWC, who are level on 19 points but separated by goal difference.
Sundowns maintained their 100% record with an emphatic 8 – 0 victory over Richmond Ladies at the previous festival in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, a fortnight ago.
However, the flattering scoreline mattered little to Sundowns coach, Godfrey Sapula, who instead emphasised the importance of building cohesion among his players and executing the team’s game plan.
Meanwhile, UWC coach, Thinasonke Mbuli, who also serves as Desiree Ellis’ assistant with Banyana Banyana, is looking forward to a highly tactical encounter against Sundowns. UWC lost 2 – 1 to Tuks in their last outing.
In the Super Rise Stream, JVW FC remain unbeaten after 10 matches, holding a three-point lead over second-placed University of Fort Hare.
Race For Top-Three Berths
Friday’s action begins with fourth-placed Ramatlaohle Ladies taking on sixth-placed Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Separated by just one point in the Super Rise Stream, the sides are battling to secure top-three finishes and places in the end-of-season FINALS playoffs.
With four matches remaining, fifth-placed First Touch Ladies, on 12 points, and seventh-placed Ezemvelo Women’s FC, on 11 points, also remain in contention.
The race is equally competitive in the Super Era Stream, where TS Galaxy Queens and Limpopo-based Copperbelt Ladies are among the teams fighting to break into the top three at the expense of either UWC or Tuks.
Make-Or-Break Weekend
For basement-dwelling Stellenbosch Ladies and City Lads, the festival offers another opportunity to boost their survival hopes.
Both teams had to wait until the second round to register their first points of the campaign.
Stellenbosch are still searching for their first win after 10 matches in the Super Era Stream, having collected their maiden point in a 2 – 2 draw against Copperbelt Ladies in Gqeberha.
City Lads, meanwhile, stunned First Touch Ladies 2 – 1 at the same festival to claim their second victory of the season in the Super Rise Stream.
Full Fixtures
Friday, 16 October 2026
Ramatlaohle Ladies vs Tshwane University of Technology – 18:00
Saturday, 17 October 2026
University of Pretoria vs Copperbelt Ladies – 09:00
City Lads vs University of Johannesburg – 11:30
Mamelodi Sundowns vs University of the Western Cape – 15:00
Diepkloof Ladies vs Stellenbosch Ladies – 18:00
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Ezemvelo Women’s FC vs University of Fort Hare – 09:00
JVW FC vs First Touch Ladies – 11:30
Richmond Ladies vs TS Galaxy Queens – 15:00
South African Football: South African clubs play in various stadiums, with FNB Stadium (Kaizer Chiefs) and Orlando Stadium (Orlando Pirates) being among the most iconic.
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Sport Trivia: What is the name of the cricket ground in Cape Town? Answer: Newlands – Newlands Stadium in Cape Town lies beneath the imposing Table Mountain which makes it a beautiful location for a cricket match. The first test played at Newlands was in 1889 with South Africa vs England.
Tunez
Bails, the horizontal pegs that sit on top of the stumps, are not attached to the top surface. Instead, they rest on shallow grooves on the free ends of the stumps. Bails are critical for determining if the wicket has been put down or broken. This in turn will help identify the status of the batsman, if he has been run out, out bowled, or stumped.